Friday, August 25, 2017

X___X Is Coming To Gonerfest


John Morton is an intimidating figure. A veteran of some of the gnarliest of the proto-punk art damage to come out of Cleveland, hell, out of anywhere, he still carries a "weight" that isn't common in any kinda music. He still feels like an artist out of time- so far ahead of everything he couldn't fit in, then over it once everyone else caught up. Still stuck in the world. As we all are. 

For a great recent example of his fantastic writing / mind, read this about fellow Electric Eel Dave E, or this about how The Electric Eels "Agitated" was written...

We're excited to have X__X at Gonerfest 14.

We threw some questions at Mr Morton, and he hurled back answers. 

+++++++++++++++++++++

How come Ohio has great music? 
German immigration? Cold war? The fact that Cleveland sucks? I didn’t really think about Ohio as a generator of great music, my own small circle, Mirrors, Styrenes, Pere Ubu, Dead Boys, Rockets and even . . . (gulp) The Pagans seem to bear (bare) that out that Cle did produce some great stuff. When I got older and expanded my thinking, the fact that Albert Ayler, Screamin’ Jay kinda convinced me that yes, North East Ohio foments some very significant music. Exclusive of the Raspberries and Michael “fuck me in the ass” Stanly. (Stanly spelled incorrectly because he doesn’t rate correct spelling) But why? I don’t know, or really care. Just like I don’t care about the music industry designations of proto-punk, punk, etc. It is all music.

Do you see any connection between Cleveland and Memphis?
(Memphis and West Memphis . . .) I think that there is a connection in that both enclaves brought forth really extraordinary music that enveloped the geographic area into which that music was born. But add to that list, New Orleans, Kansas City, Chicago and many others (OK, but not L.A. except for Love) In the mediterranean region they have injera, pita, pizza ; all kinda flat breads, but not exactly the same. Music is like a clothesline. On one end, Schumann, Brahms, X___X, electric eels, then other end, Eric Carmen and Steely Dan, etc. I have been writing a song (for years now) about fucking Paul Simon’s corpse in the ass in the lobby of The Brill Building. (still needs some polish and Paul needs to die)


Is your music in opposition or isolation?
My music? It’s my music. Done collectively (meaning the other band members) in isolation. Opposition? We had a point of view, We weren’t thinking punk or proto-punk when we were doing the eels. Dave E. and I in particular were trying to craft the music that was us. In the end, we sounded just like we were supposed to.

What's the point of art now, or ever?
Same as above. My art is what God (in whom I do not believe) wants me to do. I do it for myself (in the isolation that is always around me where ever I go) I have sold more artwork in the past three years than in the entirety of my prior career. I am finally finding some people that actually “like” what I am doing. Similarly for music. I guess it’s my time to reach ‘almost-subsistence.’ When I asked a friend for advice as to whether to embark on the first X____X tour in 2014 (I couldn’t really afford it) He said, “You don’t have anything else.” He was right and I am glad I took his advice.

Anything else you wanna say?
I always wanna say, “Fuck off” or “Fuck you” but I don’t think that is what you are looking for so, Naw, nothing else to say. OK, sumpin else to say. I was doing an oral history for the Rock Hall, and given my penchant for violence, suicidal ideation, addiction, general misery, (oxford comma) and trouble (BTW, those are pretty much in the past now) The last question was to be, “Do you have any regrets?” I loudly said, “No.” before my interviewer got to the word “any.”


Thanks to John Morton! SEE X____X Saturday Sept 30 at Murphy's Show for Gonerfest 14!

brought foth really extraordinary music that enveloped the geographic area into which that t like we were supposed toGONERFEST.COM














MEET THE GUSHERS!



Gushers are a new outfit from New Orleans who are unfit to perform just about anywhere. PERFECT FOR GONERFEST! Lead by the irrepressible Camille Burke, who was born to be onstage with a mic in her hand, we couldn't wait to learn more about this volatile band. As expected, her answers to some cursory questions only wired us up some more. Strap in and READ ON!


WHAT ARE GUSHERS ALL ABOUT?
Busting out dope-jams and wykkid selecto's, drinking lots of beer, and sniffing bleach & permanent markers...

WHAT BANDS ARE GOOD?
Black Flag, Bad Brains, Plasmatics, Dr.Know, X-ray Spex, The Jabbers, Ace Frehley...
      
WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT MEMPHIS?
The good music, the good food, the cool people...

WHAT'S BEST ABOUT NEW ORLEANS?
The good music, the good food, the cool people...

WHAT'S SOMETHING GOOD ABOUT GONERFEST?
The non-stop excellent live punk rock to bust a move & ROCK OUT to!!!
       
FAVORITE FOODS?
Beer, CRAWFISH SHRIMP CRAB BOIL powder, anything that's BLUE

WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR GONERFEST?
Rock out and BEAT THE LIVING SHIT outta the dance floor!!!

YEAH! GUSHERS play Saturday Afternoon at 3pm INSIDE at Murphys... don't miss them!

GONERFEST.COM

Thursday, August 24, 2017

COBRA MAN INTERVIEW WITH NOISEY'S TIM SCOTT

COBRA MAN New Driveway Soundtrack lp/cd is coming September 8
To get some background, Aussie Tim Scott shot 'em some questions.
Cobra Man of course shot 'em right back! Jam "Weekend Special" and check 'em out...




 
When were you first introduced to the Worbles vision?
A few years ago we all realized we were on the same page when we invented a game called “Smugglers Notch,” which involved lots of chanting and chucking full cans of beans at each others nuts. 

How did the soundtrack of New Driveway become into fruition between you and the Mull brothers? 

Well, I got laid off at Soylent and was like what the hell am I gonna do now. It just so happened that the boys needed original music and Sarah and I had talked about working together on some tunes. Great timing. 

How brave a concept is Manramp?  
I think Manramp is to skaters as Braveheart is to cinema. Skateboarders needed a hero and Manramp stepped up. All he’s got is a hardhat…he’s not even wearing a cup! That’s Sal Stallone level brave. 

I noticed that at the launch you did a bit of Manramp crowd surfing. What was that like? 

It was really fun. It was like floating on the sea, but the sea smelled like hops, yeast, and cigarette butts. 

For a young kid growing up the new driveway is where you would learn all your tricks. What was your early skateboarding like?

Yeah it happened in the driveway. My early days were a lot less like "skateboarding" and a lot more like "lighting dog shit on fire and making molotov cocktails." 


Where does the spirit of "Weekend Special" come from?
It comes from the confusion, frustration, and fun of being a stumbling booty call for a lunatic. 


The 80s LA music scene was pretty wild. What do you think the best part about it was? 

The best part about it was nobody had social media to show us all how shitty they were. 


You are playing Goner Fest. How different do you think that is going to be from the LA skate scene?  Dudes with tattoos and flannel shirts, drinking cheap can beer. Only without skateboards?

Everyone has fun. I don’t think it will be any different in Memphis. We're stoked!







GONERFEST 14 SEPTEMBER 28-OCT 1 MEMPHIS, TN

GONERFEST POSTER by Cole Wheeler!
Have you seen the lineup?
Derv Gordon of the Equals!
Come to GONERFEST!
Get Tickets NOW!
http://www.gonerfest.com

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

GonerBlog is BACK!

WATCH THIS SPACE, COWBOYS!